Apparatus for washing sediment from oil tanks



July 14, 1925.

J. HANLON APPARATUS FOR WAShING SEDIMENT FROM'IL TANKS Filed Feb, 2*'7., 1922 2 Sheet-Shedt 1'V ATTORNEYS Patented ,luly 14, 1925.

. UNITED STATES PATENT ol-Fica l JOHN 4:aannemerBaron-1in, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING SEDIMENT FROM OIL TANKS.

Application filed February 27, 1922.` Serial No. 539,793.

, same.

My invention is an improvement in washing apparatus, and relates particularly to apparatus for removing sediment from tanks adapted to containeoil and the like. Oils ofevery character carry in suspension more or less solidmatter, and when the oils are permitted to stand for any length of time, the solid matter is deposited in the form oa sediment. With the lapse of time, the layer of sediment in the tank increases in depth and density, until it reaches a' "within the tank, the operation is attended with a degree of danger. The workmen can remain in the tank but a short time, when they must be relieved, otherwise they w11l be overcome by the fumes.

In the present invention, I provide mechanism for loosening and removing the sediment, 'capable of .being controlled and operated from outside the tank, and is so arranged that every part of the tank may be easily, quickly Vand thoroughly cleaned, and the .sediment withdrawn from the tank.

The invention will be moreclearly understood after a study of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment. In these drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of a tank provided with the improved washing apparatusy for carrying out the method,

Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus removed,

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3--3 and .4-4, respectively, of Figure 2.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a tank 1 of usual character, having a manhole 2 in its side wall, near 'the' bottom, and having a center post l". The washingapparatus is designed to be inserted throughthe Inanhole 2, and the said 'apparatus comprises a pipe 4, which is adapted to ybe connected at instance a hose, with 'a source of water supply. The pipe has a dependingportion 5, which is connected to the pipe 4 by an elbow 6, and a discharge pipe 7 is mounted to telescope into the portion, 5. A water-` tight connection 8 oi' any suitable character, as for instance a stuiing box is arranged between the portion 5 of the pipe and the discharge pipe 7 and the discharge pipe-has a nozzle in the form of acrosshead 9. The ends 10 of the cross head are bent in opposite directions as shown more particularly in Figure 3, so that when water is dischargingI through the nozzle, the pipe 7 will be rotated, the said pipe being rotatable in the portion 5 of the pipe 4. A collar or head 11 is provided on the discharge pipe 7, for limitmg the outward movement thereof with respect to the portion 5 of the pipe 4, and suitable mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the discharge pipe. The said mechanism comprises a crosshead 12 secured to the pipe 7, below a fixed collar 13 thereon. Rods 21 are connected with the ends of the crosshead 12, and these rods extend upone end, by any suitable mechanism, as for wardly alongside the pipes 7 and 5, through a guide 22 on the pipe 5. The upper ends of the rods are connected by a slide 23 mounted to slide on the pipe 5., and flexible members 14 are connected with the ends of the crosshead. These members pass upwardly over pulleys l5 journaled in the ends of a support 16, which is secured to the elbow 6 intermediate the ends thereof. This support comprises a pair of members, engaging op. posite sides of the elbow, and secured together by means of nuts and bolts 17. The pulleys 15 are journaled betweenthe ends of the respective members as shown. From the pulleys 15, the iexible members 14 pass to well as rotary movement and every part of the tank may be cleaned by the discharge from the crosshead. It will be understood that this translatory movement of the nozzle may be effected by manipulating the end of y pipe 4 which extends to the exterior of tank head to rotate the nozzle.

1 through the opening 2. The ipe 4 is connected to the davit by a iiexib e member 20 and the said member may engage the support 16 on the elbow.

lln operation, the device is introduced through the manhole 2, and is engaged with the davit. If too large for the manhole, the device may be readily dismantled prior to its introduction, and reassembled within the tank. This is unobjectionable as the fumes do not arise to any substantial degree until the washing action begins. The water is turned on. As the water discharges, the sediment is stirred up,- and washed away through a drain or drains 24. As the sediment is washed away, the crosshead is permitted to drop, until all of the sediment is removed. ment may be pumped out during the operation, and the contained oil may be recovered from the water.. The davit mounting permits the nozzle to be moved so that every` part of the tank bottom may be engaged by the discharge from the nozzle. The water may be from a standpipe,.or from a water main, or from any source having suiiicient Twoor more of the devices could be simultaneously used in a tank; as for instance two might be used, being mounted at opposite sides of the center post.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for washing sediment from oil tanks, comprising the combination of a pipe, a discharge nozzle on the end of the pipe, means within the tank supporting the nozzle for translatory movement in a horizontal plane, and means operable from the.

exteriorof the tank for moving the nozzle in a vertical plane.

` 2. Apparatus for Washing sediment from oil ta s, comprising a pipeadapted to be The water laden with the sedipassed through a manhole in the side of portion at its inner end, a discharge pipe telescoping into the depending portion and provided with a rotatable discharge nozzle, and means operable from the exterior of the tank for controlling the position of the discharge nozzle relative to the bottom of the tank.

3. Apparatus for Washing sediment from oil tanks, comprising a pipe adapted to be passed through a manhole in the side of the tank, and provided with a depending por-- tion at its inner end, a discharge pipe telescoping into the depending portion and provided with a discharge nozzle in the -iorm of a crosshead, the ends of which are curved in opposite directions to cause the discharge pipe to rotate when liquid is discharged from the crosshead, means for moving said crosshead toward and away from the depending portion, said means being operable from the exterior of the tank. l

4. Apparatus for washing sediment from oil tanks, comprising the combination of a pipe adapted to be passed through a manhole in the side of the tank, a rotatable discharge nozzle on the end of the pipe, means within the tank supporting the nozzle for translatory movement in a horlzontal plane while rotating, and means operable from the exterior of the tank for moving the nozzle in a vertical lane.l

5. Apparatus or washing sediment from oil tanks comprising the combination of a discharge nozzle, means within the tank supporting the nozzle for translatory movement in a horizontal plane, a pipe for conducting water under pressure to the nozzle,

means operable through an opening in a ure JOHN HANLON. 

